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Thanks to your support, so far we've raised over £500 for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45.

You can still help, by donating to CALM, by purchasing your own copy of the film, or by sharing a link to the film on social media.

Donations will help CALM keep their free helpline and webchat open from 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year, and to expand their services to reach more men and save more lives.

Story

A young man (Colin Morgan) arrives in Blackpool, England, the seaside town of his childhood. Unable to reconcile the happy memories of his past with the bleak reality of the present – he determines to end his life.

But can a chance encounter with a girl (Kerrie Hayes) also in trouble be enough to pull him back from the brink of suicide and give him hope for the future?

This is a story of despair and hope, when what seems like an end is really a beginning and how a chance encounter with a stranger can help you find your place in the world.

THE LAUGHING KING is a 15 minute short film that touches on the complex and wide-reaching issue of male suicide. It has been endorsed by the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a registered charity which exists to prevent male suicide in the UK.

The film was directed by the award-winning Lindy Heymann, whose own story of personal loss to suicide led her to co-write the script with Leigh Campbell. It was produced without financial assistance, with the talented cast and crew donating their time to the project.